Travels with haRVy

We have enjoyed our four months in Florida much more than anticipated, but the temperature is rising (86 degrees forecast for tomorrow), so we are heading further north.

Since my last post we have been slowly making our way up the Atlantic coast. Thanks to fellow Westy owner Dave in Cocoa Beach for letting us camp out at his beachfront motel again for a few days. This post tells of our visit last December with more photos.

I was surprised to see this pair fishing together again four months after coming across them here before.

Boondocking next to the pond at RV Golf Club host The Preserves at Turnbull Creek in New Smyrna Beach.

Guess the owner of this truck never paid his repair bill.

Camped alongside the St. Johns River in East Palatka, thanks to Peggy, my former roommate’s mother.

The next day the three of us drove Peggy’s car down to tiny Georgetown where Kim and Rod picked us up on their pontoon boat. Here we are on our way to their cottage on rustic Drayton Island.

Peggy and daughter Kim walking to the cottage.

The charming 600 square foot cottage Rod and Kim had built and are now living in full time.

Peggy with Kim’s babies. Hope I look (and think) as good as Peggy when I’m 95 years old. You go girl!

Kim takes us on an island tour in the mule. No paved roads here!

Time to leave.

Goodbye Peggy and Kim – thank you for lots of fun!

Out of commission boat house on Lake George.

We spent the next afternoon in beautiful St. Augustine, the oldest colony in America and a nearly perfect tourist destination. With beautifully restored historic architecture, unique shops, wide-ranging restaurant offerings, a harbor, a fort and much more, all within walking distance, who could ask for more? We were lucky to visit on a not too busy weekday.

Classic car in front of the majestic Spanish style Casa Monica, which was built in 1888 and restored in 1999.

The former Ponce de Leon Hotel is now part of the Flagler College campus.

Rotunda dome in the old hotel lobby.

Tiffany glass windows in stairwell to student residences.

Dining in what was once the sunken swimming pool in the former Alcazar Hotel. At the time it was built, the bathing pool was the largest indoor pool in the world. Click on link above to see old photo of it.

Entrance to Castillo de San Marcos, now part of the National Parks system.

Our last stop in Florida was the same as our first back in November – charming Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, just south of the Georgia state border. We featured this location on this post from our previous visit.

We thank our Boondockers Welcome host Mike for welcoming us back for a longer stay. With three nights and two full days to explore we got to know this unique town a little better.

We toured the historical museum in the old jail.

Interesting comparison to Newport, Rhode Island where we will be returning to soon.

Departing the Everglades felt like the beginning of our long trip home. It is still cold in Rhode Island, so we are not in any hurry to get back, but the turn northward has been made.

We had to stop at this legendary produce stand in Homestead. Robert opened it as a child in 1959 selling fruit from his father’s farm. Today it is so popular that tour buses include it on their itinerary.

Robert himself still works there every day.

Our next stop of note was at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach. I was surprised to learn that this is the nation’s only museum dedicated to Japanese living culture. We enjoyed its gardens, which are recognized among the finest outside Japan, and an outstanding lunch in their Pan-Asian cafe.

Six distinct gardens are inspired by famous gardens in Japan.

This modern garden emphasizes the relationship between interior and exterior spaces.

Morikami Falls combine massive boulders and flowing water in a composition of dynamic tensions.

Koi feeding frenzy.

Hotei, their resident god of happiness.

Hiraniwa flat garden.

Bedner’s in Boynton Beach was our Harvest Host for two nights.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, caught-today scallops, and a bottle of wine.

The Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge was a short bike ride from our campsite.

Not sure what to think about this sign. Why was it posted here?

We peddled miles of trails with nobody else in sight.

This big mama alligator was guarding her babies.

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is the only remnant of the northern Everglades in Palm Beach County.

Boondocking at Ted and Sandy’s house in Hobe Sound. Thank you!

How did 27 years fly by so fast?

Our next Harvest Host campsite was next to the vines at Summer Crush Winery in Fort Pierce.

Wine tasting room.

Pond with white sand beach and gazebo.

Somebody has a sense of humor.

We arrived just in time for the Post Paddy Party!

Local band Uproot Hootenanny had my toes tappin’.

And the Young Dubliners rocked the house!

We have spent the last few days relaxing in Cocoa Beach where a fellow Westy owner allows us to camp in his motel’s parking lot. The beach is just a few yards away so we go there everyday to soak up the sun and swim in the surf. It has been great to stop for a few days, but we don’t want to overstay our welcome. If today’s high winds subside, we will be heading out tomorrow.

We reluctantly headed north off the keys and took a hard left turn onto Route 9336 into the southeastern section of Everglades National Park. We were excited about meeting up with fellow travelers Keith and Cheryl in Flamingo. We originally made their acquaintance in New Brunswick and Newfoundland, Canada in 2011 and visited them at their home in Denver three years ago.

This is all you see if you don’t get out of your car in the Everglades.

Our beautiful campsite in Long Pine Key Campground.

Nice view from haRVy from that same campsite.

After one night at Long Pine Key we spent a day exploring several short scenic trails along the road from there to Flamingo. Photo above depicts our first indication of the mosquito wars to come.

The view from the Pa-hay-okee Lookout is vast.

The two photos above are panoramic. Click to see them larger.

Bald Cypress is a deciduous conifer that grows on saturated and seasonally inundated soils.

Florida Bay from Flamingo, where there are no flamingos, only pink buildings.

The mid-century modern visitor center that has survived three hurricanes.

We were happy to see that recent high winds had brought down the level on the Mosquito Meter. The prior week the indicator had been in the hysterical zone. Unfortunately, it did creep back up a bit during our stay.

We visited this Osprey family in the campground daily.

Not sure why this mockingbird hung out there too. Do they eat fish? You can’t tell in this photo, but the osprey has a fish under his foot that he is tearing apart to feed to his offspring in the nest above.

Mother and child. Almost couldn’t believe I got this shot with my little pocket camera.

This friendly manatee was eating algae off the marina dock.

While this rather large crocodile sunbathed on the boat launch ramp.

Keith and Cheryl took us for an evening drive to Paurotis Pond where we all enjoyed lots of bird activity

and this beautiful sunset (while beating off hordes of mosquitoes).

Keith and Cheryl making an Everglades fashion statement.

When it became necessary to wear our net bug suits day and night we decided it was time to leave. We spent one more night at Long Pine Key with significantly fewer bugs. On our way out of the park we hiked the acclaimed Anhinga Trail where we viewed several more examples of the resident wildlife.

Anhinga drying his wings.

Gar Fish.

Bromeliads and other air plants becoming more brilliant as spring approaches.

Too many alligators to count.

Here’s looking at you!